PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Matthew White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Bird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matthew White has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

White
vs
Bird

174 cm
26
154 lbs
8 - 4 - 1

170 cm
26
144 lbs
15 - 0 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

ACME-Blood Red Q158 Always $30 (5% Laundry SALE)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, Matthew White!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, William Bird!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Kenichi Hosakawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bird avoids a kick to the body.
White lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Bird fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
White throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
White jabbing away but nothing is landing.
White keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
White lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
White takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Bird blocks a leg kick.
Bird misses with a body shot.
White fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Bird checks it well.
White pivots, looking for a leg kick but Bird is out of range and White settles back down.
Bird scores with a head kick.
Bird connects with an inside leg kick.
White misses with a low kick as Bird jumps back.
Bird thuds his right hand into White's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
This has been an exciting period of action!
White throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bird sees it coming and avoids it easily.
White moves out of range as Bird strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White scores with a leg kick.
White misses with an uppercut
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Bird cracks a nice hook into White's ribs.
White shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
White misses with a head kick.
White lands a nice shot to the body.
Bird moves away from the strike by White.
White slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
White moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Bird pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bird throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
White misses with a straight left.

Bird has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bird lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Bird tried to land a shot to the body but connects with White's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White tries a body shot but Bird blocks it.
With the fighters up against the cage, Bird throws an elbow but misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bird tries a body shot but White blocks it.
Bird lands a body punch in the clinch.
Bird tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bird lands an elbow inside that White shrugs off.
Bird lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Bird works on White's body with a couple of short punches.
White tries a body shot but Bird blocks it.
Bird struggles to land a body shot inside as White controls his hands.
Bird misses with a punch on the inside.
White swings wildly with an uppercut but Bird uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bird putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has White in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Bird blocks a body shot from White.
Bird lands a good knee to the midsection. White won't want to take too many of those.
White swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird stalling against the cage.
A short right from Bird.
White managing to block the knees to the body from Bird.
White takes an elbow to the forehead.
White tries to work over Bird's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bird tries to work over White's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
White prevents a body shot from Bird.
Bird goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bird lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
White lands with a light punch inside.
White pushes Bird back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Bird blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
White digs a right hand into Bird's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Bird's gas tank.
White blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bird misses with an elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bird landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bird tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and White avoids it.
Bird throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Bird lands a right hand that snaps the head of White backwards.
White blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Bird lands with a right to the head.
Bird lands a knee to the head.
White wants to break free but Bird has control.
Bird tries to land a knee to the head but White blocks with his arms.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bird.
White works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A nice right hand lands inside from White.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bird lands an elbow inside that White shrugs off.
White blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
White has a couple of punches blocked by Bird.
White throws a punch but it's blocked by Bird.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Bird dominated that round.
That's time! White's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

White looks to land a right hand but Bird moved out of range.
White looks to land a right hand but Bird moved out of range.
Bird uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Bird scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
White throws a nice outside leg kick.
No joy there for White, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bird takes a shot right to the bread basket.
The fighters circling - White throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
White dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bird. That did some damage!
White throws a shot from downtown. Bird moves away and avoids it.
White doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
White throws a leg kick but Bird checks it.
Bird defending well as White loads up on a big left hand.
White misses with a body kick.
Bird throws a solid leg kick but White takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Bird.
Bird thumps White with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed White momentarily.
White throws a leg kick
letting Bird counter with a right hand.
White lands a jab to the nose.
White throws a shot from downtown. Bird moves away and avoids it.
White cracks Bird with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Bird lands with a hook. White tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Bird waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract White.
Bird cracks White with a good jab.
White throws an overhand right that lands on Bird's shoulder, as Bird tries to avoid the shot.
Bird tries to clinch up.
A lazy left from White finds it's target.
Bird delivers a nice body kick.
Bird jabs at White's body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
White fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
White misses with a hook.
White avoids a kick to the body.
Bird lands a jab to the head.
White thows a leg kick but Bird checks it
and Bird counters with a right hand to the body.
White pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bird blocks a low kick nicely.
White scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Bird scores with the left hand. White knows he should have avoided that one.
White throws a front kick that sends Bird stumbling back into the cage.
Bird avoids the head kick by White.
White lands a nice leg kick that just misses Bird's sensitive parts.
Bird jabbing away but nothing is landing.
An inside leg kick lands from Bird.
White cracks the inside of Bird's front leg.
White just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird connects with a nice looking jab.
White tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bird was well out of range. Poor timing from White.
A swing and a miss from White.
Bird scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. White doesn't seem bothered though.
Bird throws a low kick, looking for White's leg but White calmly moves out of range.
Bird checks a leg kick.
Bird with a jab.
A low kick from Bird is predictable there
letting White counter with a right hand.
White uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bird.
Bird clobbers White with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Bird feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to White's calf.
White thows a left - swing and a miss!
White connects with an inside leg kick.
White misses with an uppercut. Bird saw that one coming.
Bird fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
White tries to land a leg kick but Bird saw it coming and moves away.
William Bird seems to be getting the better of the standup.
White wants to land a leg kick but Bird is out of range.
Bird is looking to clinch but White is avoiding it.
Bird closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Bird lands a really nice looking cross but White seems unphased.
White scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
White looks to throw the jab but Bird is out of range.
Bird is looking to slow White down with leg kicks.
Bird buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
White circles away from the clinch attempt.
A thudding body kick lands there by Bird!
A telegraphed right hand from Bird misses the target.
White takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Bird showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bird lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
White slips a straight right by Bird.
White connects with a leg kick. Bird looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A leg kick checked by White.
White lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
White moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
White takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
White throws a lazy right hand but Bird sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bird tries a head kick but it misses.
White blocks the body kick.
White lands a nice looking kick to the body. Bird takes a step back to recover.
Bird throws a body punch but White moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from White.
White throws a leg kick but Bird moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Bird. White shrugs it off though.
Bird cracks White with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Bird misses with a kick to the body
and White counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
White throws a hook to the side of Bird's head but Bird sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bird cracks White with a good jab.
White looks for the body kick but Bird saw that one coming.
Bird lands with a cross.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from White, right into the meat.
Donk. Bird catches White right on the button with a cross.

Bird drives through and clinches with White against the cage.
Bird lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Matthew White has been cut.
Knees in the clinch landing for Bird.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
White being controlled against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White wants to get back to striking at distance but Bird won't allow it.
White avoids the elbow strike from Bird, against the cage.
White on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
White working aggressively here.
Bird looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bird.

White breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bird throws a hook to the side of White's head but White sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
That kick from Bird tenderised White's leg. White is trying to keep his angry face on.
Bird lands a jab to the nose.
Bird pulls out of a head kick attempt.
White throws a head kick but Bird moves out of range.
A jab from Bird does it's job there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Bird. That one must have hurt.
White throws a leg kick
and Bird makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Bird lands a nice hook to White's body. White takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Bird moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
White is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A kick lands to the mid section there for White.
Bird dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
White jabbing away but nothing is landing.
White just misses with a punch to the body.
White explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
White ducks under a wild hook from Bird.
Bird lands with a shot to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bird misses with a wild combination.
Bird bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bird rushes White and presses him up against the cage.
Bird lands a nice elbow.
Bird is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. White is defending well for now.
White dodges an elbow strike from Bird.
White looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Bird gets through White's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Bird lands a left hand that snaps the head of White backwards.
White throws a head punch that misses.
White tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nice body punch from Bird.
Bird is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. White is defending well for now.
William Bird seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
White throws a punch but it's blocked by Bird.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Bird.
A short right from White.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Bird really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matthew White's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bird throws a half hearted mid kick.
A jab from Bird finds it's way through White's defenses.
White takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bird looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Bird lands a jab.
That kick from White tenderised Bird's leg. Bird is trying to keep his angry face on.
Bird checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Bird jabs White right on the nose. White blinks but takes it well.
Bird misses with a body kick.
White moves out of range of the leg kick from Bird.
White checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Bird tries to clinch there but White circles away.
Bird looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Bird checks a leg kick.
White is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bird.
Bird scores with a leg kick.
A punch lands to the side of White 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Bird fails with an attempt to clinch.
White misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bird.
Bird has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from White.
White throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bird connects with a good right hand that stumbles White. White circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
White throws a low kick, looking for Bird's leg but Bird calmly moves out of range.
White staying out of range there.
Bird throws out a powerful jab.
A head kick misses from White.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from White, right into the meat.
A shot to the body from White misses
and Bird counters with a solid body kick.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bird scoring well with a low kick there.
White throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bird sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bird misses with an uppercut. White saw that one coming.
White takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A jab lands there for Bird.
White looks to land a left hand but Bird moved out of range nicely.

White gets tackled into the cage by Bird. Bird maintains the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for White.
Bird is working White over against the cage.
Bird lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Bird is leaning against White and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
White takes an elbow to the forehead.
Bird tried to land a shot to the body but connects with White's elbow.
White is trying to force a seperation but Bird has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bird content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Bird misses with a punch on the inside.
Bird swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bird throws an elbow but it misses.
Bird lands a shoulder strike.
Bird lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
White misses with a punch on the inside.
Bird lands a body punch in the clinch.
Bird pushes off an throws an elbow but White leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Bird scores with a shot to the side of White's head.
Bird creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Bird tries to land a knee to the head but White blocks with his arms.
With the fighters up against the cage, Bird throws an elbow but misses.
Bird comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White misses with the head strike.
White swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bird tries a knee to the head but White blocks it.
Bird has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bird can't find room to land a body shot as White controls the action.
White misses with a hook to the ribs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
White can't find room to land a body shot as Bird controls the action.

White manages to break the clinch.
Some bone on bone action there as Bird checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
White misses with a combination
and Bird makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
A jab lands there for Bird.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
White swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bird avoids a kick to the body.
White checks a low kick from Bird.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Bird dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Matthew White's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Bird steps to the side to avoid the strikes from White.
A looping hook to the body misses from White. Bird does a little dance to reset his feet.
A decent looking body kick lands there for White.
Bird's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Bird tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Bird with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling White to score with a decent uppercut.
White misses with a body shot.
Bird tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and White is able to avoid easily.
Bird slips under a jab.
White avoids a kick to the body.
Bird fakes high and swings low for a body shot but White manages to avoid it.
White lands a head kick!
White cracks Bird with a right hand to the side of the head.
White throws a hook to the side of Bird's head but Bird sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bird takes the fight into the clinch.
Bird misses with an elbow over the top.
Bird can't find room to land a body shot as White controls the action.
Bird throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Whites head.
White lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Bird scores with a nice short uppercut.
Bird landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
White misses with a hook from the clinch.
White misses with a punch on the inside.
Bird lands with a left to the head.
White misses with a punch to the body.
Bird misses with a hook from the clinch.
White misses with the head strike.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Matthew White has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bird works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
White has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Bird creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through White's defenses.
Bird with an attempt at a knee that misses.
White goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
White misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bird lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
White working aggressively here.
Bird makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
White misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bird manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
White can't find room to land a body shot as Bird controls the action.
A right hook to the body lands for Bird.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird throws an elbow that misses.
Bird landing knees to the head.
Bird using the Thai plumb to throw knees but White has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Bird softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
White tries to work over Bird's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bird scores with a nice hook to the head.
Bird misses with a punch to the body.
White dodges an elbow strike from Bird.
White avoiding damage as Bird throws knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by White.
Bird lands with a left to the head.
Bird working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Bird comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Bird lands a left hand that snaps the head of White backwards.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Bird fails to land.
White works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
White on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
White misses with a punch on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Bird.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
White has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
White scores with a shoulder strike.
White tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bird misses with a hook to the ribs.
White dodges an elbow strike from Bird.
A short right from White on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Bird.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bird lands a damaging elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bird.
Bird utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
White tries a body shot but Bird blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
William Bird comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bird has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 45:50
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 45:50
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... William Bird! William Bird retains his featherweight title!
William Bird looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'I am the greatest KT fighter of all time! There is noone in 135 lbs or 145 lbs that even come close to my level. If you disagree, I welcome you into the ring where you will receive a fistful of pain!'.